International human rights monitoring

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office is actively engaged with international human rights monitoring mechanisms at both United Nations and Council of Europe level. Of particular importance in this respect is the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the panel of independent experts that periodically monitors Ireland’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Ombudsman for Children’s Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 2015

In early 2016, a plenary meeting will take place between the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Irish Government to examine Ireland’s progress with implementing its obligations under the UNCRC since 2006. In context of its preparatory work for this meeting, the UN Committee will consider a report prepared by the Government as well as alternative reports.

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office has prepared an alternative report in our capacity as an independent human rights institution for children living in Ireland. This report has been submitted to the UN Committee, together with A Word from the Wise, a booklet and CD which highlight the stories of children, young people and parents whose complaints the Office has dealt with.